Football

No hard-sell required for Catawba-Presbyterian clash

This time, though, that’s hardly the case. When Catawba College (3-0) takes on Presbyterian (1-1) today at Bailey Memorial Stadium, no hard-sell is required.

If you can make it to Clinton, S.C., for the 1:30 kickoff, by all means — go. This SAC battle could be the best game played in the Carolinas today. It’s a matchup of the best defense in Division II against the best offensive player in D-II.Catawba’s zero-tolerance defense you already know all about unless you’ve been stranded with Tom Hanks the last three weeks.

Meanwhile, PC quarterback Todd Cunningham already owns all the school records. Hopefully the SAC records are written in pencil, because he’s going to erase them, too. TC already has 80 — yep, 80 — career TD passes and has chucked for 7,811 yards. Catawba coach David Bennett says Cunningham will get his vote for anything he runs for. Bennett says UPS can go ahead and pack up the Harlon Hill Trophy — awarded annually to D-II’s best — and forward it to Cunningham’s dorm.

Put it this way: passing days of 300 yards are considered awesome achievements. On opening day, Cunningham tossed for 505. And he did it against 12th-ranked West Georgia. West Georgia’s not Georgia Tech, but it’s not Austin Peay, either.

Veteran Catawba linebackers Shawn Sanders and Shawn McBride are fearless, determined men. But when they speak of Cunningham, awe creeps into their voices. Catawba’s shining Shawns talk about this second coming of Cunningham like he’s Randall Cunningham in his prime.

“He releases the ball so quick,” says Sanders. “He’s great at creating space, buying time. It’s like you’ve almost got him, but then you don’t quite get there. We just can’t get frustrated.”

“If we don’t get in his face,” adds a solemn McBride, “he’ll pick us apart.”

Last year, Catawba picked on Cunningham, picking him off three times in a 27-14 win. But that one was at Shuford Stadium. This one’s not. And that’s why if Las Vegas bookmakers offered a line, the Blue Hose would be favored.

Forget that PC’s ranked 22nd and Catawba sixth. It’s been next to impossible for the Indians to win in Clinton.

Maybe it’s time for Bennett to do one of those “Hoosiers” things when his troops get off the bus. He could produce a a tape measure and prove to his guys that the goalposts are the same height, the field the same length and width as Shuford.

“We lost at PC in 1994, in ’96, in ’98,” says Bennett. “They have great tradition. Winning there is always a challenge.”

No doubt. Catawba’s last win at PC was in 1992. PC leads the series 37-15-2.

Bennett’s sure of one thing: Catawba had better generate some offense. He says PC’s defense is better than Wingate’s and 12 points won’t get the job done today. No way Catawba’s “D” can be asked to silence a PC offense that put up 34 on West Georgia.

PC, by the way, has selected Catawba as its homecoming guest, a move that should rile up both teams. It’s also worth noting that every Clinton trip is a homecoming of sorts for Bennett, a proud member of PC’s Class of ’84.

“It’s special, but it ain’t special to go down there and lose,” Bennett said. “I don’t want to put pressure on our guys, but a win would mean an awful lot.”